Method of and apparatus for proportioning flowing fluids



W. E. HANNUM Oct. 10 1933:

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROPORTIONING FLOWING FLUIDS Filed May 20. 1931 INVENTOR William E. Hcmnum.

ATTORNEY v Patented 10, 1933 urao:

William E. hlannuuu Princes, 13%? fi -tumor a Bailey llleter Germany, a corporation or helaware Application 2-day til, will, llerloll No, ti hllhd 31$ ((Ol. reactor This invention relates to the control oi flowihg fluids, and in particular to the proportioning oi the several flows 0:? a divided fluid, through and in accordance available heat of a pluralits of heaters for the heating of the fluid.

It has as its primary object to provide a method I and an apparatus for distributing or proportionof the gases for heating ing a flowing fluid through a numher oi heaters accordance with the available heat supplied to the heaters.

A further object is to so proportion the i'duld to be heated between the heaters that suiiiclent cooling of the heaters will result toprevent damage to them.

Still another object is to so proportion the iluid that as nearl a uniform temperature oi will he obtained at the esdt of the eaters, as is possible.

in order to make clear my; invention it have chosen to illustrate and will descrihe a pre= fer-red embodiment connection with the re heating of steam after it has passed through a relatively high pressure turbine and prior to passing through a relatively lower pressure turhine. 1 preferably cause the steam to how through heat exchangers heated toy the waste gaseous products of conihustion oi steam generating hoilers, wherein the amount and heat content varies with rate of operation of the boilers. l proportion the how of steam through these heaters hi accordance with the available heat, considering the rate of operation of the holler or rate or flow oi steam generated by the holler as an index of the mount of available heat the waste products or cornhustioh.

lo the drawing, is a diacratic representation of apparatus eeohodyinu the invention, have illustrated two steam generating hollers l and 2 heated by the combustion oi a suitalole fuel hi the furnaces 3 and i respectively, and dis= charging steam through the pipes 5 and e to a header "l. The header l may supply steam to a turbine or other apparatus (not shown) from exhaust dream is desirahly reheated *erore to other utilizing apparatus (not shown) l have au unied the steam exhausted from the first mentioned steam utilizing apparatusls available through a header E3, and I desire to proportion this steam irons the header ii through the pipes h and lit to the WQS'W gas heat exchangers ii and ill. The heat err changers ii and i2 positioned in the path or discharge from the boilers t; and i of the gaseous products oi combustion oi" the boilers, for

the heating of the exhaust steani flowing through the eucgers hr the heat available in the waste gases. The reheated steers leaves the heater ll through a pipe 13, and leaves the heater it through a pipe l4, the pipes 13 and lo leading to ll ier steam ute apparatus (not shown) l find that the rate oi discharge of steam through the pipes o and e serves an accurate index oi the rate oi operation of the hoilers, and

of the availability of total heat per unit or time in the waste products of combustion passing the heaters ll and 123. To measure the rate of how or swam leaving the holler through the pipe 5, l"

have inserted in the pipe hetween convenient flanges, a how nozzle lii across which will occur to a pressure difilerence a mown relation to the rate oi flow oi steam through the nor-ale. l have shown similar ilow nozzles it, it, it post tioned in pipes l5, 9,, ill respectively for causing a pressure drop across the respective ilow nozzles, to

which pressure drop I may employ a measure oi the how or steam through the respectlre pipes.

Generally indicated ill, 2o; 21 and are rate-oi=flow meters oi the flowing through the pipes 6,, it, 9 and it nesp-ectiveh The meters so are similar in construction and operation, and while their capacities may vary, as well as the conditions or the steam uoeasin'ed, which would change constants one from the other,

I feel that it is ecessarv to demrlhe in detail so the construction and operation off more than one or the similar meters, and propose to avoid duph cation and repetition by describing only the meter indicated at @onnected to the pipe 5, the inlet side or the to how nozzle i5, is a pressure pipe to lolninu trttine pressure to the pressure leg or a mercury sealed U-tuhe 24,, oi which 25 indicates a low pressure lee connected by a pressure pipe as to the pipe 5 at the outlet side oi the home iii.

lll'hen steam is flowing dorouuh the pipe 5, the nozzle l5, a pressure diflerence will exist due to the temporary increase in velocity of the through the nozzle, and will he efieotive through the pipes 23, it upon the U=tuhe ac, to end lull flow meter. Transformer winding 28 forms the secondary winding of a step-down or insulating transformer which has its primary winding 29 connected by the conductors 30, 31 to a source of alternating current, of constant potential, indicated by the power lines 32. Primary winding 27 is thus connected to a source of alternating current 32 through the intermediary of the stepdown transformer comprising the windings 28 and 29. It is desirable that a voltage of comparatively small value be impressed on the winding 27, while the voltage ordinarily met with is of 110 volts or more, and the purpose of the step-down transformer is to provide a voltage for the winding 27 of suitable value.

The U-tube 24, upon which is effective a pressure difference resulting from a flow of steam through the flow nozzle 15, is sealed with mercury which is a conductor of electricity. The relatively high pressure at the inlet to the flow nozzle forces the mercury downward in the high pressure leg of the U-tube, and upward in the chamber 25 around the winding 2'7, the difference in elevation of the mercury being a measure of the pressure difference and of .the flow. The mercury in rising forms a ring around the lower end of the transformer 27, comprising a closed secondary winding of a single turn for the transformer whose primary winding is 2'7, and the resistance of which varies in accordance with the depth of the mercury ring.

The current flowing in the primary winding 27 will be proportional to the resistance of the secondary winding formed by the mercury ring, so that as the mercury rises-and falls in the casing 25, the current flowing in the primary winding 27 and hence in the circuit comprising conductors 30, 31, will vary in accordance with the depth of the mercury ring, and consequently with the rate of flow of steam through the pipe 5.

In the circuit comprising the conductor 31 is a suitable solenoid coil 33 adapted to vary in effect upon a core 34, for positioning the same vertically, in dependence upon, or proportional to, the current flowing through the conductor 31.

Similarly, a flow meter 20 serves to vary the current flowing through a transformer primary 35. connected by conductors 36, 30 and by conductors 37, 31 to the power lines 32. Interposed in the conductor 37 is a solenoid winding 38 similar to the solenoid winding 33 and effective to position a core 39 in proportion to the current flowing through the conductor 37.

The flow meters 21 and 22 are similarly provided with transformer primaries 40 and 41 respectively, through each of which flows a current proportional to the pressure diflerenceexisting across the flow nozzle to which the respective flow meters are connected. The transformer primary 40 connected at one terminal through the conductor 30 to the power lines 32 and at the other terminal through the conductor 42. The transformer primary 41 is connected at one terminal by conductors 36, 30 to the power lines 32 and at the other terminal by a conductor 43 to the power lines. Positioned in the conductors 42 and 43 respectively aresolenoid windings 44 and 45, re-- spectively effective in positioning the solenoid cores 46 and 4'1,

I have shown the four solenoids, namely 33, 38, 44 and 4 5, as arranged in close proximity for cooperation thereof, and will now explain in detail the desirable cooperation of the solenoids for accomplishing a proportioning of the flow of the steamin the pipe 8 through the pipes 9 and 10 in proportion to the steam flowing through the pipes 5 and 6. The solenoid cores 34 and 39 are oppositely positioned across and connected to, at a common pivot point 48, a fulcrumed beam 49. Similarly positioned, and pivoted to a common point 50 of the fulcrumed beam 49 are the solenoid cores 46 and 47, the arrangement being such that the beam 49 is fulcrumed intermediate the points 48 and 50, and either at a point equidistant from the points 48, 50, or otherwise as desired, depending upon the capacities of the flow meters and the desired proportionality to be maintained between the various flows.

It will be seen that the arrangement of the fulcrumed beam 49 with the solenoid cores 34, 39, 46 and 47 forms a balancing system wherein the beam 49 will be positioned in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around its fulcrum, depending upon the balance or preponderance of forces in the various solenoid coils. Thus if the current flowing through the solenoid 33 as an indication of the rate of flow of steam through the pipe 5, is equal to the current flowing through the solenoid 38 as an indication of the rate of flow of steam through the pipe 6, then equal forces will be effective upon the point 48 through the solenoid cores 34 and '39, whereas if the rate of flow of steam through the pipe 5 predominates that through the pipe 6, and correspondingly the current flowing through the solenoid 33 predominates that flowing through the solenoid 38, then the beam 49 will tend to move, for example, in a clockwise direction around its fulcrum. Similarly, should the current through the solenoid 44, as an indication of the rate of flow of steam through the pipe 9 predominate the current through the solenoid 45, as an indication of the rate of flow of steam through the pipe 10, then the pull of the solenoid 44 upon the point 56 will be greater than the pull of the solenoid 45 upon the same point, and the beam 49 will tend to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction about its fulcrum.

If, however, the preponderance of the rateof flow of steam through the pipe 5 over that through the pipe 6 is in the same amount or proportion as the preponderance of the flow of steam through the pipe 9 is over that flowing through the pipe 10, then the force tending to rotate the bar 49 in a clockwise direction will be equal to and balanced by the force tending to rotate it in a counterclockwise direction, and the bar 49 will not rotate about its fulcrum. This due to the fact that the rate of flow of steam through the pipes 9 and 10 is in desired proportion to that through the pipes 5 and 6. If, however, the proportionality is other than desired, and for example, the counterclockwise force is greater than the clockwise force, then the bar 49 will tend to rotate in a counterclockwise direction around its fulcrum, as

might result from the rate of flow through thepipe 9 being greater in proportion to the rate of flow of steam through the pipe'10, than the proportion of flows through the pipes 5 and 6.

, Through my invention, the rotation of the bar 49 effects a correcting of the proportion of the flow of steam through the pipes 9 and 10, whereby in the example given, the flow through the pipe 9 would be decreased, and that through the pipe 10 would be increased, until the proportion of flows between the pipes 9 and 10 would be the same as that through the pipes 5 and 6. I have shown as an extension of the bar 49, a contact arm 51 adapted upon rotation of the bar 49 around its fulcrum in a clockwise direction issuers to engage and contact with a point 52, and upon rotation in a. counter-clockwise direction to engage a contact 53. The contact 52 is shown as connected by a conductor 54 with reversible means indicated as reversible electric motors 55, whereas the contact 53 is connected through a conductor 56 with the motors 55. A return line 30 joins the motors 55 to the power lines 32; the contact arm 51 being connected through the conductor 31 to the power lines 32. The motors 55 are similar and rotate-together, each motor connected through gearing5d to a valve so. One valve 59 is positioned in pipe 9 and the other in pipe 10, the motors 55 being connected to the conductors 30, 5d, 56 oppositely in a manner such that simultaneous rotation of the motors 55 results in opposite rotation of the gearing 58, to the end that one valve 59 will be opened while the other is closed.

The arrangement illustrated and described,

contemplates the dividing and proportioning oi a fluid to be heatedin accordance with the heat available at the heaters through which the fluid is to pass in divided how. The heat available depend upon the rate oi operation oi the boilers, and as an index of the rate of operation, l measure the rate oi steam output from the boil= era. by comparing the steam now irom the boilers, l obtain a relationship which 1 may use m a guide to the proportiornng oi the fluid to be heated.

it be readily understandable that the type of flow meter illustrated and described is not necessarily the only type usable in my invention, as i may equally as well employ the invention in connection with float actuated or liquid sealed hell or other ypes oi meters. Nor do i desire to be limited to the use of my invention in connection with steam generating boilers and Waste gm heat onehangers. in fact, while i have illustrated and described preferred embodiment of invention, l desire it to be distinctly understood that l are not to be limited thereby other than by the claims in view of prior art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by hitters Patent oi the United States, is:-=

i. The method of proportioning the flows of a plurality of streams or a fluid to be heated in accordance with the available heat supplied to' control in accordmce with the departure of said comparison item a predetermined value.

2. The method of proportioning the hours of a plurality of streams of a fluid to heated in accordance with the available heat supplied to heaters through which the streams oi the build are separately passed, which consists in obtaining a measure of the proportionality oi the iiovving streams, obtaining a mean e of the proportion ality of available heat at the heaters, deter the relation between said proportion= aiities, and subjecting at least one or the streams to rate control in accordance with the depamure of said relation from a predetermined value.

3. in combination, a pipe for the how or a fluid to be heated, branches to pipe ior joining pipe to a plurality oi heat exchangers, said heat exchangers each having. available the heat contained in a second fluid flowing therethrough in heat conducting relation with the first fluid, valve means for proportioning the distributionof the first fluid from the pipe to said branchesj means for indicating for each heater the value of a factor bearing a functional relation to the heat available at the heater, and common means for determining the proportionality ,between said values for positioning said valve means.

4. In combination, a plurality of furnaces, a heat exchanger for each furnace and having available for heating the waste gaseous products of combustion of said iurnace a pipe for the flow of a fluid to be heated, branches to said pipe for joining the pipe to each heater, valve means lot ing boilers, a waste heat exchanger for each boiler and having available for heating the waste gaseous products oi combustion of the boiler, an inlet pipe for each heater for the flow of a fluid to be heated, valve means in each inlet pipe to regulate the flow of said hold, a measuring means of the rate oi fluid ilovv througheach pipe, means for comparing said rates of flow for determining the ratio thereof, indicating means of the value of a factor of the operation of each boiler, means for comparing said values for determining the ratio thereoi, means for comparing said ratios, and means positioned by said last-named means for actuating said valve means.

6. in combination, a plurality of vapor generating boilers, a Waste heat exchanger for each boiler and having available for heating the waste gaseous products oi combustion of the boiler, an inlet pipe for each heater for the riovv of a fluid to be heated, valve means in each inlet pipe to regulate the flow of said fluid, means in connection with each inlet pipe which produces a flow of current which is a measure oi the fluid iiovv therethrough, a discharge pipe for each boiler tor the flow of vapor from the boiler, means in connection with each discharge pipe which produces a now of current which is a measure of the vapor flow therethrough, and a balanced relay connected to said two last=named means responsive to the proportionality between the rates of iilow of vapor dhcharged iromthe boilers and the rates'oi flow oi vapor to said heat exchangers for adcctlng movement oi said valve means.

if. in combination, a plurality of gener atlng boilers, a waste heat exchanger for each boiler and having available for heating the gaseous producm or combustion of the boiler, a pipe for the flow of hold to be heated, branches from the pipe to the heat exchangers, control means for proportioning the fluid to be heated to the heaters, a lion meter for each branch which produces a flow oi current which is a measure of the fluid flowing tugh the branch, a how meter for each boiler and which produces a blow of current rvhic is a m of the ram oi boiler output. and balanced relay connected to said how meters, said balanced relay edective to actuate said control me.

8. in combination, a plurality oi vapor gener ating boilers, a heat exchanger for each boiler and having available for heating the gaseous products oi combustion oil the boiler, an

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so proportioning the distribution of the fluid through inlet pipe for each heater for the flow of a fluid to be heated, valve means in each inlet pipe to regulate the flow of said fluid, a flow meter for each inlet pipe which indicates the rate of fluid flow therethrough, a discharge pipe for each boiler for the flow.of vapor from the boiler, a flow meter for each discharge pipe which indicates the rate of vapor flow therethrough, a balance means to which the flow meters are connected, and means responsive to the balance of measurements for eflecting movement of said valve means.

9. The method of proportioning the flows of a plurality of streams of fluids in accordance with the availability of a variable to each of said plurality of streams, which comprises indicating the rate of flow of each stream, determining the ratio of said rates of flow, indicating the value of a factor bearing a functional relation to the availability of said variable to each stream, determining the ratio of said values, comparing said ratios, and subjecting the streams to rate control in accordance with said comparison.

10. The method of proportioning the flows of a plurality of streams of a fluid in accordance with the ratio between the rates of flow of a second plurality of streams of a fluid, which comprises indicating the rate of flow of each stream, determining the ratio between the rates of flow of said first plurality of streams, determining the ratio between the rates of flow of said second plurality of streams, comparing said ratios, and subjecting the first plurality of streams to rate control in accordance with the departure of said comparison from a predetermined value.

11. The method of heating a plurality of fluid streams each flowing through a heat exchange, which comprises measuring the rate of flow of each stream, determining the proportionality for each heat exchanger between the rate of flow oi the related stream and the available heat for heating same, and subjecting at least one of said streams to rate control from said proportionality.

12. The method of controlling the flow of steam to a heater having available for heating the steam the gaseous products of combustion from the furnace of a steam generator, which includes regulating the flow of steam to said heater in accordance with the flow of steam from said generator, the flow of steam to the heater being independent of the flow of steam from the generator.

13. The method of controlling the flow of a vanor to a heater having available for heating the vapor the gaseous products of combustion from the furnace of a vapor generator, which includes regulating the flow of the vapor to the heater in accordance with the flow of vapor from the generator, the flow of vapor to the heater being independent of the flow of vapor from the generator.

14. In combination, a vapor generator and a furnace for heating the same, a vapor heater wherein is available the gaseous products of coma plurality of streams of a. second fluid, which comprises indicating the rate of flow of each stream, determining the ratio between the rates of flow of the plurality of streams of the first fluid, determining the ratio between the rates of flow of the plurality of streams of the second fluid, comparing said ratios, and subjecting the first plurality of streams to rate control in accordance with departure of said comparison from a predetermined value.

16. The combination with a plurality of fluid heaters each having a furnace disposed in heat exchange relation thereto, means for producing efiects respectively representative of the flow oi fluid through each of said heaters, means sensitive to the difference in said effects, and means controlled by said last-named means for changing the rate of flow of fluid through at least one of said heaters.

17. The combination with a plurality of furnace chambers, a vapor generator and a fluid heater arranged in heat conducting relation to each of said furnace chambers, means associated with each of said fluid heaters for producing an effect representative of the rate of flow of fluid therethrough, means associated with each of said vapor generators for producing an effect representative of the rate of flow of vapor therefrom, means sensitive to said efifects, and means for changing the .ratio between the rates of flow of fluid from said heaters controlled by said lastnamed means.

18. The combination with a plurality of furnace chambers, a vapor generator and a fluid heater arranged in heat conducting relation to each of said furnace chambers, an electric circuit associated with each of said fluid heaters, means for producing an electrical current in each of said circuits bearing a functional relation to the rate of flow of fluid through the associated heater, an electrical circuit associated with each of said vapor generators, means for producing an electrical current in each of said last-named circuits bearing a functional relation to the rate of flow of vapor from the associated vapor generator, a movable member, an electro-magnetic winding connected in each of said circuits for exerting a force on said movable member, valve means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid through each of said heaters, electrical means for controlling said valve means, a source of current for energizing said electrical means, means for regulating the energization of said electrical means from said source of current controlled by said movable member.

- WILLIAM E. HANNUM, 

